Chapter 7
FOE with BENEFIT, WE are like YOU
000
July 17th.
Sunset comes as Ichigo were sitting near the river.
"Huh..." Ichigo sighed tiredly.
'There's so many peoples asking questions. It make me tired. So exhausting....,' so he decided to walk home.
Unexpectedly a massive presence come to Karakura town.
'Wait my Pesquisa! it senses something! This feeling! A hollow and it's strong!' as Ichigo began to spread his Pesquisa range.
Then a hollow start to show. This hollow looks like muscular male of average height with short messy black hair, black upper lip and a slit-like green eyes.
He has teal lines which descend from the lower part of his eyes. He wears a high-collared white jacket with longer coattails, black sash, and a white hakama. Then he keep following Ichigo from behind.
"Can I ask why do you keep following? Who are you?" as Ichigo turn around, agitated at this annoying hollow.
"I following you under Lord Aizen order to merely observe."
"I'm Ulquiorra Ciffer, a Fourth Espada."
Ulquiorra Ciffer then began using Pesquisa to tried sensed Kurosaki Ichigo's Reiatsu, and he discovered Kurosaki Ichigo Reiatsu surpasses himself the Fourth Espada, and then he understand why Lord Aizen held an interest towards Kurosaki Ichigo.
"Espada?"
"Yes. Espada were title that were given to strongest hollow in Las Noches, Hueco Mundo's hollow stronghold. And I'm only ranked Fourth."
"Why did your boss Aizen only order you to observe me? Didn't he previously sent Grandfisher to kill me?"
"Lord Aizen was merely curious about your strength so he wanted to test you Kurosaki Ichigo by using weak Arrancar like Grandfisher."
"So this Aizen decided to send even stronger hollow like you to deal with me? Did he wanted to use you to intimidate me to join your side?"
"Hardly Kurosaki Ichigo. Lord Aizen stated he had not any intentions to invite you to join his cause."
"What?"
"Lord Aizen stated he curious about your hollow power development from your training as the hollow power you possess were coming from one of Lord Aizen's former creation which was named White."
"White? Why naming it White?"
"Because unlike any of other hollow. White was an Arrancar, the first one to be created by layering soul reaper souls. Although covered in black Hierro armor it was named White due to it's inner whiteness."
'Inner whiteness. Yeah I can see that. Stupid bleached white.' Hearing that White began to laugh maniacally.
"King! Me and Yhwach-Ossan suddenly got an idea!" Says White through their mental link.
'What idea?'
"Ask him whether Aizen know about his Ressureccion; Segunda Etapa and use it to your advantages King!"
'How?'
"A battle King! Remember when I told you how to gain power, it's by going into battle. Use Ulquiorra to become stronger King! Not many hollow achieve Ressureccion; Segunda Etapa and Ulquiorra successfully have one. His capabilities are invaluable! Take advantages of him King!" White informed him through their mental connections.
"Ulquiorra did Aizen knew you achieved Ressureccion; Segunda Etapa?'"
?!
"How did you know it?"
"Just answer my question first."
"Very well. Lord Aizen doesn't know I achieved Ressureccion; Segunda Etapa because I haven't show it to Lord Aizen. Answer me how did you know of it existence?"
"Because I could achieve it too."
"Explain."
"Ulquiorra Schiffer, I think we need to make a deal first before giving each other informations. Besides you don't want Aizen to know you achieve it, right?"
"A deal? Very well. State what you want."
"You're ordered by Aizen to observe me, right? Tell me about yourself and show me your skills and I'll tell you about my capabilities, so you could use it to update Aizen on my progress in hollow power. But in exchange teach me about Hollow's knowledge and Hueco Mundo, and have a fight against me with Segunda Etapa when you have time. When I achieve Ressureccion; Segunda Etapa, you will not tell Aizen either and our deal can only be known to both of us. How is it? Do we have a deal?"
"Indeed. I accept your deal, but I only fighting you with Ressureccion;Segunda Etapa in a secluded place so my ability will remain hidden from prying eyes and you better prepare such place yourself."
"Okay I'll prepare the place myself Ulquiorra. I'll tell you how I know about Segunda Etapa. The one who told me was White."
"White? Aren't you White, Kurosaki Ichigo?"
"Well... White is the manifestation of my hollow and soul reaper power. You could say he's both my Ressureccion and Zanpakutou at the same time in that regards. White told me that I could achieve Ressureccion; Segunda Etapa and that's how I knew about its existence."
"I see. Then I'll tell you about myself, among the Arrancar I was considered as the most skilled Pesquisa user, high-speed regeneration and Garganta broadcast. Most hollow when becoming Arrancar exchange their capabilities in high-speed regeneration to gain more destructive power but I didn't instead I trained to make up for what I lack."
"You trained yourself? I guess we're similar regarding that. To train at what we lacked. I used my Pesquisa that's why I can sense you and I had high-speed regeneration as well but.... Garganta broadcast? I've never heard of it. So.... What's an Arrancar? I only know that Hueco Mundo is where the hollows lives."
"I'll tell you only within the scopes of our deal. Don't forget to tell me about what you're capable of, Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Yeah right, I almost forgot. Sorry. Okay, so I can use something called Hierro and Sonido."
"Show me."
"Okay, attack my hand."
Clang!
"It seems you truly possess strong Hierro."
Zzzztt
"Including Sonido."
"Continue where you left off Ulquiorra."
"Very well. Arrancar are Hollows that have removed their masks in an effort to acquire the powers of both Hollow and Soul reaper."
"It's similar to my power."
"Yes it's similar."
"Oh yeah I'll show you my high-speed regeneration" Ichigo then make a cut on his palm and it got healed rapidly.
"Your high-speed regeneration were fast. It seems just like me, you didn't exchange high-speed regeneration for more power."
"Well it would be bad if I got injured, right? Losing it would lower my chances in survival."
"Indeed. I agree in the term of survival as most hollow tend to forget and ended up lower their guards."
"Did you know what's those light beams that Gillians used?"
"You mean Negaciõn? Negaciõn is the pillar beam that Gillians usually used to rescue their comrades or to draw their chosen target towards them. Negaciõn are capable of completely isolates someone from the dimension they are currently in, making it impossible for any interactions from the outside of the impenetrable pillar."
"Was there anyone who used Negaciõn in another way?"
"There is indeed such hollow, but first show me your Ressureccion."
"Ressureccion; Luna Monochroma" after showing it to Ulquiorra, Ichigo then turning it off.
"Your Ressureccion looks like how White was described. It seems this is your true hollow form. A Vasto Lorde. You're Espada-level Arrancar." Ulquiorra contemplated.
"I'll answer your previous question, Kurosaki Ichigo. There's a hollow who used Negaciõn in different way than most. She used many threads made of Negación to store or transfer information. She is able to duplicate her own soul and memories through the threads she used." Ulquiorra answered.
'I see. That's actually pretty good ability it also similar to Auswählen soul distribution. White can we use Negaciõn in such way?'
'You bet King! As long as your control of Negaciõn is adequate, you could fashion it into a threads. Even using it the same way as her. You've got Auswählen remember? You can use it on her.'
'That's a pretty good advices, coming from you White'
'Likewise King'
"How she's doing it?"
"I don't know. I've only knew that she's just capable of doing that. She's most known as a nurse within Las Noches."
"Oh... What's her name?"
"Considering she's not an Espada revealing her name should pose no threat. Her name is Roka Paramia."
"I wish I could meet her. Her ability sounds interesting. By the way Ulquiorra how are you gonna report to Aizen? Is it weekly? Monthly?"
"Lord Aizen ordered me to observe you and report anything interesting about your hollow power immediately. So I'll constantly observe you for time to time."
"I suppose you can tell them about my skills."
"There's one more thing I should've told you Kurosaki Ichigo."
000
The next day, July 18th, around 10 a.m
Karakura Forest
Kurosaki Ichigo could be seen going through intense workouts as he doing physical exercises. Sweats could be seen falling from his skin as he still continuing hellish training encouraged by his Inner World tenants.
By then, he saw blonde man with weird smiles walk towards him. Honestly, there's so much suspicious people who wanted something from me. I need to not let my guards down.
"Yo! Child how are you doing? Isn't it boring training alone?"
"What are you doing here! Who said you could bother my personal space!"
"Don't need to get agitated, brat~ I came with peace."
"Says the one who's suspiciously coming here with an agenda."
"Huh! Who said that! I'm barely do anything here?"
"I don't believe you."
"Really? Even though perhaps we might've some similarity?"
"A similarity? You mean your lame blonde sideway bob? Or piano teeth? We don't look alike either."
"I don't mean my appearance brat! I'm sure you already realize it. A hollow within you." He then clawed downwards at his face to show him white hollow mask.
"Ah.... "
"From your reactions, I guess you already know. Then you don't need me to tell you how dangerous it is to have a hollow inside you. An inner Hollow. Your inner hollow might've decided to devour you..."
"Ckk.. " Ichigo clicking his tongue.
"Oi! Brat! I'm helping you here! Shouldn't you thanking me first? How ungrateful....."
"Then don't be here! Shooo!"
"What a difficult brat. With time you've come to realize that our help is necessary. You need to make your Inner Hollow submit or else they'll devour you."
"Your help? This our help of yours implies there's more of you, isn't? And for the record I don't need your help. I already make that stupid hollow submit since long ago."
"Ehh! You already did it? Seriously? Can you show me?"
"Why should I do that?"
"Because I wouldn't believe you otherwise."
"I don't need your clarification. Unless you offer me something beneficial, of course..."
"Beneficial.... How about we taught you how to use hollow power?"
Kurosaki Ichigo then make a black hollow mask shows up. Aimed bala at near the blonde. "No need" he stated.
"Okay. Okay. What do you want then brat?"
"Before you had inner hollow, you were a soul reaper, right? Teach me soul reaper's arts then I'll reconsider going with you."
"You want us to teach you that? Alright brat you have a deal. Then follow me to our place."
"You obviously know me, but I don't know you, mister sideway blonde."
"Oh... yeah I haven't introduced myself. Hear me out brat! I'm Hirako Shinji, pleased to make your acquaintances Kurosaki Ichigo."
000
Warehouse somewhere unknown.
"Hey guys! I brought the brat! Come here immediately!"
"Oi! Baldy! What took you so long!" Hiyori shouted.
"Hiyori! At least I'm successfully bringing him here, right?" Shinji said.
"Hiyori right. What took you so long? It's unusual" Rabu responded.
"Well the brat was elusive. It took me a long time to find him. But here he is!" Shinji explained.
"Well why don't you introduced yourself? I'm Kuna Mashiro~" Mashiro introducing herself.
"I'm Kurosaki Ichigo."
"Oh~ berry-tan" Machiro cooed.
"My name is Muguruma Kensei."
"I'm Yadomaru Lisa."
"I'm Sarugaki Hiyori, call me Hiyori-senpai!"
"That baldy over there is Hirako Shinji!"
"My name Otobarashi Rojurou."
"Name's Aikawa Rabu."
"I'm Ushoda Hachigen nice to meet you..."
"We're the Visored. Soul reaper who get stuck with Inner hollow. Just like you Kurosaki Ichigo" Shinji announced with smiles.
"Well when do we start?" Rojuro asked.
"Actually, there's something I want to tell you guys." Shinji said with serious face.
"What it is? Hurry up tell us! Don't stalling!" Lisa demanded.
"The brat actually already made his inner hollow submit." Shinji stated.
"How is that possible?" Mashiro wondered.
"Apparently he just made it happen" Shinji shrugged.
"Sheesh... and here I though we would get some action" Kensei replied with dissatisfaction.
"Did he really do it? Where's the proof?" Hachigen asked.
"Show the mask brat" Shinji said. Then a black hollow mask was formed at Kurosaki Ichigo face.
"I see. So he already succeed" Kensei said.
"See I told you so!" Shinji replied.
"Stupid baldy! You wasted our time!" Shouted Hiyori.
"So why is he here if he's already succeed?" Rabu confused.
"Well at least I wanted to introduced him to you guys and I made a deal with him" Shinji explained.
"What kind of deal?" Rojuro asked.
"Well to show me his mask. I promised the brat that we would teach him in soul reaper arts." Shinji explained his promise to other Visored.
"Seriously?" Lisa said in disbelief.
"Yes" Shinji said.
"What kind of soul reaper art that you could teach me?" Ichigo asked.
"You really don't know?" Rabu asked.
"It's because I don't know, that's why I'm asking you right now." Ichigo admitted his lack of knowledge at soul reaper arts.
"Well soul reaper art consisted of Zanjutsu the way of sword combat, Hakuda the way of unarmed combat, Kido magic spells, Hado destruction spells, Bakudo barrier and binding spells, and Kaido healing spell." Hachigen informed Ichigo.
"So which one you wanted to learn first?" Rojurou questions.
"Kaido." Ichigo answered. Kurosaki Ichigo felt like Kaido would be necessary as it could be used to heal others and deep down he wished he could heal his mother that day.
Even though Ichigo got high-speed regeneration, such skill only capable for healing his own self, not others. Having Kaido would help in dealing unforeseen circumstances that results in injuries.
"It will be hard brat." Lisa concerned.
"What could be worse than fighting your own hollow?" Ichigo raised his eyebrow in disbelief.
"Heh! You got guts kid! I'll respect that!" Kensei acknowledged Kurosaki's determination.
"Okay, I shall be the one to teach you Kaido Kurosaki Ichigo." Hachigen said.
"Don't you ever hold back against the kid Hachigen!" Kensei reminded.
"I won't." Hachigen assured them.